One of Cocoon’s home boys enjoying a massive summer in Ibiza
Interview : Dan Prince
Welcome to DMCWORLD young man, where in the world are you today?
“Hello Dan, today I’m in Ibiza chilling at home and preparing stuff for next weekend.”
You started making music when you were 16, when did you first discover dance music and who were the artists / producers that first grabbed your attention?
“I discovered dance music around 15 years old with artists like KLF, Snap, Technotronic, Ace of Base and Culture Beat and I was really in love with this kind of music! It was so new for me with all those electronic sounds and it made me dance.”
You have sent the world crazy with your latest cut ‘Medusa Kiss’…what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Next step is my album before the end of the year on Jamie Jones’s Hot Creations. It is pretty new and different to what I have done before and I love this!”
You have remixed some giants of the scene…Depeche Mode, Chemical Brothers, Moby, Booka Shade, Vitalic, Tiga and Martin Solveig to name but a few. What though is your finest rework you have accomplished and why?
“For me my work on tracks like Tiga – ‘Sunglasses At Night’ and Depeche Mode’s – ‘Hole To Feed’ are well accomplished because I kept the main idea of each tracks, took it well into my musical style own feeling without losing the spirit of the original track.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
Mountain People – Mountain 001
The Mole – Nervous Disid
Low.Tales – Someone Like You (Rhadow Remix)
Sebo K – Avalanche
Joeski – All By Myself (Nathan Barato Remix)
DJ Pierre, Supernova – The Beat
D’Julz – Da Madness (The Martinez Brothers Remix)
Sidney Charles – Warehouse Romance
Ron Costa – Affles
Jovonn – Back To House (Ian Pooley’s New Dub)
This summer is proving to be very interesting with some of the big nights down in numbers. not cocoon though!!! for our readers checking in from far afield who haven’t been to the mighty Sven Vath techno palace, please tell us why this night is so damned good on the white isle…
“Cocoon at Amnesia is one of the best parties in Ibiza because of the amazing DJs playing there, they always bring music to the top notch. Also the mood of all the Cocoon party people is the best in the huge place that is Amnesia!!”
Why is Sven such an important figure in dance music?
“Sven has been behind the scene a long time, he has help make some big artists. His label is a reference and he is really influent on what’s happening today with electronic music.”
What 1 song always reminds you of Coccon?
“The old Extrawelt or Dominik Eulberg tracks remind me of a lot of memories and obviously the original Cocoon sounds…”
Best ever Coccon party?
“All Cocoon parties are the best ever! But I always have a lot of fun at Cocoon in Amnesia…”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“I do not think that way. In my opinion, synching two records is a simple task that needs a bit of practice. The most complex thing about DJing is to be able to select the right tracks, then having the ability to orchestrate an evolution within the mix while creating an atmosphere. Nowadays, the new technologies available enable us DJs to add tons of effects, create loops…this has significantly contributed to giving another dimension to the mix and opened the door to many more possibilities in terms of DJing.”
Some great photos on your Facebook site of you watching/celebrating/commiserating your france team in the World Cup. We didn’t expect much of them, they started so well though…?
“Honestly Dan, I’m not really into football, only during the World Cup because of everyone’s craziness over it. I like to have good times with my friends watching matches just for fun more than real football fans. The French team went out early, so let’s try again in four years!!”
Away from dance music, who are the artists you are currently into?
“Otis Redding, Franz Ferdinand, Tyga, Ella Fitzgerald, Robin Thicke, Marvin Gaye, Jill Scott, Theloniouss Monk, Chopin…I listen to a lot of various music!”
You have just kicked the shit out of Mexico on tour, what were some of the ‘take home’ memories from that trip?
“There’s a lot! The amazing after party in Mexicali, the crazy crowd in Ciudad Juarez where people were jumping everywhere . The main thing is that Mexicans know how to party!”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
“Wham – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”
…always gets you dancing?
“Robin S – Show Me Love.”
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
“Al Green – Simply Beautiful.”
…you wish you would have made?
“Aphex Twin – Window Licker.”
Tell us about your studio set up…
“My studio set up is an Access Virus, a Phat Moog, a Roland R8, Elektron machine drum and a Cubase sequencer.”
Who is the last young, up and coming producer you have seen…?
“Eric Volta because his music is original and can be different each time he produces…he has a lot of musicality and I like it.”
Who are your big DJ friends on the circuit, who do you like to party with?
“To name but a few…Julian Jeweil, Paul Ritch, Sebastien Leger, Joseph Capriati, Magda and Vitalic…”
What is the 1 festival you always look forward to on the party calendar?
“Easy. Burning Man!”
Best ever festival experience?
“Creamfields Argentina.”
What is on a POPOF rider in 2014? Candles? Cold towels!!???!!
“Champagne, vodka, water , juice, Kinder candies…!”
And finally, you were asked in an interview once whether you envisaged yourself being in the industry in 20 years. You replied “I have no idea, I hope so!” So, if you hadn’t have become a DJ and producer, what other profession could you have fallen into???
“Probably a party organiser or a drug dealer.”
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POPOF will be appearing at Cocoon @ Amnesia on September 22nd. All information : https://www.facebook.com/COCOONIBIZA
For further information on POPOF check :
http://www.facebook.com/pages/POPOF/28281443788
http://soundcloud.com/popofofficial
twitter.com/popofofficial
